Picker for tractor front end loader arms



Feb. 9, 1965 D. VARGA PICKER FOR TRACTOR FRONT END LOADER ARMS Filed March 29, 1963 United States Patent Ofifice 3,168,922 Patented Feb. 9, 1965 3,168,922 PICKER FOR TRACTOR FRONT END LOADER ARMS David Varga, Reynaud, Saskatchewan, Canada Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 268,988 1 Claim. (Cl. 171--63) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in picker assemblies, adapted specifically to be secured and operated by the front end loader arms of a tractor.

Although this device is designed specifically as a stone picker, nevertheless it will be appreciated that it can be utilized to pick up straw, roots, manure, hay, wood, brush and the like.

Conventional stone pickers are usually self propelled devices or else adapted to be towed behind a tractor and are usually relatively expensive. Furthermore they are not adapted for use on any material except partially submerged stones as the tractor has to drive over the material first.

I have overcome these disadvantages by prov1d1ng a relatively simple stone picking device which is adapted to be pivotally secured upon the arms of a front end loader and to be utilized therewith. This means that the device is pushed in advance of the tractor and, due to the ground engaging wheel assemblies, can be adjusted for height within limits, to pick up the material being worked upon.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithm described which is particularly adapted for attachment and operation by a front end loader attachment of a tractor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which can be used either with or without wheel assemblies.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the device can be elevated by means of the front end loader arms for dumping or transporting purposes.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentiallyin the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevationof my device.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of my. device.

In the drawings like charactersv of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which reference character illustrates the lowermost ends of conventional front end loader arms. These loader arms terminate in forks 11 which normally carry a front device.

This beam, which takes the form of a heavy duty angle iron, has a plurality of picker arms 16 welded thereto by the ends 17 thereof, said arms extending downwardly and forwardly thus forming rear portions 18 and gathering portions 19 extending therefrom and it will be observed that these arms are in spaced and parallel relationship across the width of the main beam 15. Diagonal braces 16 are secured by ends 17' thereof to each end 18 of the main beam 15 and by the other ends 19 thereof to adjacent the distal ends 20 of the outermost picker arms specifically designated 21.

Ground engaging wheel assemblies 22 are provided upon each side of the device, each assembly including a wheel fork 23 within which is journalled for rotation a ground engaging wheel 24. The innermost leg or arm 25 of the wheel fork extends rearwardly and is pivotally attached by means of pivot pin 26, to the aforementioned diagonal braces 16' adjacent their points of attachment to the main beam 15.

Vertical struts 27 are secured by their lower ends 28 to the ends 19 of the diagonal arms and it will be observed that these struts are provided with a plurality of apertures 29 through which a bolt 30 may selectively engage thus positioning the wheel assemblies 22 with relation to the ends 31 of the picker arms, it being understood that bolt 30 passes through the arm of the wheel fork and through any one of the apertures 29 of the vertical struts 27. This means that the ends 31 of the picker arms can be adjusted with relation to ground level having regard to the type of material being picked up thereby, the hardness or softness of the ground and the like.

A cross member 32 spans the front end loader arms 10 and carries a trip lock 33 which includes a detent 34 which is engageable over the upper edge 35 of the main beam. Manual or hydraulic means (not illustrated) are provided and adapted to actuate the trip lock 34, when it is desired to dump the load carried by the assembly. In this connection it will be appreciated that the load can be elevated by the front end loader arms, maneuvered to a desired dumping location such as adjacent a truck whereupon the trip lock 34 can beactuated thus causing the weight of the device to pivot downwardly about the pins 13 with relation to the front end loader arms and thus dump the load.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claim without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A picker attachment for front end loader arms of a tractor, said picker attachment comprising a basket-like body having an open front and including .a transversely extending rear beam, a pair of side braces extending downwardly and forwardly from the ends of said rear beam to the sides of the open front of the body, means on said rear beam for attaching the same to loader arms of a tractor, and a pair of ground engaging wheel units provided at-the opposite sides of said body, each of said wheel units comprising an arm disposed alongside the adjacent one of said braces, pivot means connecting the rear end of said arm to said one of the braces at a point adjacent said rear beam for swinging movement of the References Cited in the file of this patent arm in a vertical plane, a fork provided at the front end UNITED STATES PATENTS of said arm, a travelling wheel rotatably mounted in said fork, an upstanding strut secured to the front end portion 2488699 Anthony 1949 r 2,652,939 Burch Sept. 22, 1953 of sa1d one of sa1d braces and provided with a row of 5 2 827 969 h apertures, and a fastening element carried by said fork of MCP erson 1958 said arm and receivable selectively in said apertures, FOREIGN PATENTS whereby the position of the wheel unit relative to said 231946 Australia Nov 21 1960 body may be vertically adjusted. 

